Arne Sigve Nylund, vice president for development and production in Norway for Statoil ASA, pauses during a tour of the Oseberg A offshore gas platform, operated by Statoil, in the North Sea 140 kilometers (87 miles) from Bergen, Norway, on Friday, Jan. 17, 2014. less

Arne Sigve Nylund, vice president for development and production in Norway for Statoil ASA, pauses during a tour of the Oseberg A offshore gas platform, operated by Statoil, in the North Sea 140 kilometers (87 ... more

Photo: Kristian Helgesen, Bloomberg

Arne Sigve Nylund, vice president for development and production in... Photo-5748828.77425 - Houston Chronicle

Image 4 of 51

The Oseberg A offshore gas platform operated by Statoil ASA stands in the Oseberg oil field in the North Sea 140 kilometers (87 miles) from Bergen, Norway, on Friday, Jan. 17, 2014.

The Oseberg A offshore gas platform operated by Statoil ASA stands in the Oseberg oil field in the North Sea 140 kilometers (87 miles) from Bergen, Norway, on Friday, Jan. 17, 2014.

Kjetil Hove, vice president of development and production for the east region at Statoil ASA, inspects pipework on the Oseberg A offshore gas platform operated by Statoil ASA in the Oseberg oil field 140 kilometers (87 miles) from Bergen, Norway, on Friday, Jan. 17, 2014. less

Kjetil Hove, vice president of development and production for the east region at Statoil ASA, inspects pipework on the Oseberg A offshore gas platform operated by Statoil ASA in the Oseberg oil field 140 ... more

Photo: Kristian Helgesen, Bloomberg

Kjetil Hove, vice president of development and production for the... Photo-5748831.77425 - Houston Chronicle

Image 7 of 51

Marchus Schumann Larssen, Oseberg A platform chief, right, speaks to a visitor during a tour of the offshore gas platform operated by Statoil ASA in the North Sea 140 kilometers (87 miles) from Bergen, Norway, on Friday, Jan. 17, 2014. less

Marchus Schumann Larssen, Oseberg A platform chief, right, speaks to a visitor during a tour of the offshore gas platform operated by Statoil ASA in the North Sea 140 kilometers (87 miles) from Bergen, Norway, ... more

Marchus Schumann Larssen, Oseberg A platform chief, center, speaks to a worker during a tour of the Oseberg A offshore gas platform operated by Statoil ASA 140 kilometers (87 miles) from Bergen, Norway, on Friday, Jan. 17, 2014. less

Marchus Schumann Larssen, Oseberg A platform chief, center, speaks to a worker during a tour of the Oseberg A offshore gas platform operated by Statoil ASA 140 kilometers (87 miles) from Bergen, Norway, on ... more

Arne Sigve Nylund, vice president for development and production in Norway for Statoil ASA, right, and Kjetil Hove, vice president of development and production for the east region at Statoil ASA, pause during a tour of the Oseberg A North Sea offshore gas platform, operated by Statoil, 140 kilometers (87 miles) from Bergen, Norway, on Friday, Jan. 17, 2014. less

Arne Sigve Nylund, vice president for development and production in Norway for Statoil ASA, right, and Kjetil Hove, vice president of development and production for the east region at Statoil ASA, pause during ... more

Photo: Kristian Helgesen, Bloomberg

Arne Sigve Nylund, vice president for development and production in... Photo-5748836.77425 - Houston Chronicle

Image 12 of 51

Workers pause during their shift on the Oseberg A North Sea offshore gas platform operated by Statoil ASA 140 kilometers (87 miles) from Bergen, Norway, on Friday, Jan. 17, 2014.

Workers pause during their shift on the Oseberg A North Sea offshore gas platform operated by Statoil ASA 140 kilometers (87 miles) from Bergen, Norway, on Friday, Jan. 17, 2014.

Photo: Kristian Helgesen, Bloomberg

Workers pause during their shift on the Oseberg A North Sea... Photo-5748837.77425 - Houston Chronicle

Image 13 of 51

Workers test new equipment in the drilling control room on the Oseberg A North Sea offshore gas platform operated by Statoil ASA 140 kilometers (87 miles) from Bergen, Norway, on Friday, Jan. 17, 2014.

Workers test new equipment in the drilling control room on the Oseberg A North Sea offshore gas platform operated by Statoil ASA 140 kilometers (87 miles) from Bergen, Norway, on Friday, Jan. 17, 2014.

Photo: Kristian Helgesen, Bloomberg

Workers test new equipment in the drilling control room on the... Photo-5748838.77425 - Houston Chronicle

Technicians wait in the drilling control room as they install new equipment on the Oseberg A offshore gas platform operated by Statoil ASA in the Oseberg North Sea oil field 140 kilometers (87 miles) from Bergen, Norway, on Friday, Jan. 17, 2014. less

Technicians wait in the drilling control room as they install new equipment on the Oseberg A offshore gas platform operated by Statoil ASA in the Oseberg North Sea oil field 140 kilometers (87 miles) from ... more

Photo: Kristian Helgesen, Bloomberg

Technicians wait in the drilling control room as they install new... Photo-5748840.77425 - Houston Chronicle

Image 16 of 51

New operating equipment stands ahead of testing in the control room on the Oseberg A offshore gas platform operated by Statoil ASA in the Oseberg North Sea oil field 140 kilometers (87 miles) from Bergen, Norway, on Friday, Jan. 17, 2014. less

New operating equipment stands ahead of testing in the control room on the Oseberg A offshore gas platform operated by Statoil ASA in the Oseberg North Sea oil field 140 kilometers (87 miles) from Bergen, ... more

Photo: Kristian Helgesen, Bloomberg

New operating equipment stands ahead of testing in the control room... Photo-5748841.77425 - Houston Chronicle

Image 17 of 51

Gases burn from a flare stack on the Oseberg A offshore gas platform operated by Statoil ASA in the Oseberg North Sea oil field 140 kilometers (87 miles) from Bergen, Norway, on Friday, Jan. 17, 2014.

Gases burn from a flare stack on the Oseberg A offshore gas platform operated by Statoil ASA in the Oseberg North Sea oil field 140 kilometers (87 miles) from Bergen, Norway, on Friday, Jan. 17, 2014.

Photo: Kristian Helgesen, Bloomberg

Gases burn from a flare stack on the Oseberg A offshore gas... Photo-5748842.77425 - Houston Chronicle

Image 18 of 51

Gases burn from a flare stack on the Oseberg A offshore gas platform operated by Statoil ASA in the Oseberg North Sea oil field 140 kilometers (87 miles) from Bergen, Norway, on Friday, Jan. 17, 2014.

Gases burn from a flare stack on the Oseberg A offshore gas platform operated by Statoil ASA in the Oseberg North Sea oil field 140 kilometers (87 miles) from Bergen, Norway, on Friday, Jan. 17, 2014.

Photo: Kristian Helgesen, Bloomberg

Gases burn from a flare stack on the Oseberg A offshore gas... Photo-5748843.77425 - Houston Chronicle

Image 19 of 51

Drilling rigs stand on the horizon in the Oseberg North Sea oil field seen from the Oseberg A offshore gas platform operated by Statoil ASA 140 kilometers (87 miles) from Bergen, Norway, on Friday, Jan. 17, 2014. less

Drilling rigs stand on the horizon in the Oseberg North Sea oil field seen from the Oseberg A offshore gas platform operated by Statoil ASA 140 kilometers (87 miles) from Bergen, Norway, on Friday, Jan. 17, ... more

Photo: Kristian Helgesen, Bloomberg

Drilling rigs stand on the horizon in the Oseberg North Sea oil... Photo-5748844.77425 - Houston Chronicle

A drilling rig stands in the North Sea beyond the Oseberg A... Photo-5748845.77425 - Houston Chronicle

Image 21 of 51

A crane arm hangs above the North Sea on the Oseberg A offshore gas platform operated by Statoil ASA in the Oseberg North Sea oil field 140 kilometers (87 miles) from Bergen, Norway, on Friday, Jan. 17, 2014.

A crane arm hangs above the North Sea on the Oseberg A offshore gas platform operated by Statoil ASA in the Oseberg North Sea oil field 140 kilometers (87 miles) from Bergen, Norway, on Friday, Jan. 17, 2014.

Photo: Kristian Helgesen, Bloomberg

A crane arm hangs above the North Sea on the Oseberg A offshore gas... Photo-5748846.77425 - Houston Chronicle

Image 22 of 51

Gases burn from a flare stack on the Oseberg A offshore gas platform operated by Statoil ASA in the Oseberg North Sea oil field 140 kilometers (87 miles) from Bergen, Norway, on Friday, Jan. 17, 2014.

Gases burn from a flare stack on the Oseberg A offshore gas platform operated by Statoil ASA in the Oseberg North Sea oil field 140 kilometers (87 miles) from Bergen, Norway, on Friday, Jan. 17, 2014.

Photo: Kristian Helgesen, Bloomberg

Gases burn from a flare stack on the Oseberg A offshore gas... Photo-5748847.77425 - Houston Chronicle

The North Sea horizon is seen from the Oseberg A offshore gas platform operated by Statoil ASA in the Oseberg oil field 140 kilometers (87 miles) from Bergen, Norway, on Friday, Jan. 17, 2014.

The North Sea horizon is seen from the Oseberg A offshore gas platform operated by Statoil ASA in the Oseberg oil field 140 kilometers (87 miles) from Bergen, Norway, on Friday, Jan. 17, 2014.

Photo: Kristian Helgesen, Bloomberg

The North Sea horizon is seen from the Oseberg A offshore gas... Photo-5748849.77425 - Houston Chronicle

Image 25 of 51

A North Sea drilling rig stands on the distant horizon beyond the Oseberg A offshore gas platform operated by Statoil ASA in the Oseberg oil field 140 kilometers (87 miles) from Bergen, Norway, on Friday, Jan. 17, 2014. less

A North Sea drilling rig stands on the distant horizon beyond the Oseberg A offshore gas platform operated by Statoil ASA in the Oseberg oil field 140 kilometers (87 miles) from Bergen, Norway, on Friday, Jan. ... more

Workers move along an access way above the giant supporting legs of the Oseberg A offshore gas platform operated by Statoil ASA in the Oseberg North Sea oil field 140 kilometers (87 miles) from Bergen, Norway, on Friday, Jan. 17, 2014. less

Workers move along an access way above the giant supporting legs of the Oseberg A offshore gas platform operated by Statoil ASA in the Oseberg North Sea oil field 140 kilometers (87 miles) from Bergen, Norway, ... more

Arne Sigve Nylund, vice president for development and production in Norway for Statoil ASA, right, and Kjetil Hove, vice president of development and production for the east region at Statoil ASA, pause during a tour of the Oseberg A offshore gas platform, operated by Statoil, 140 kilometers (87 miles) from Bergen, Norway, on Friday, Jan. 17, 2014. less

Arne Sigve Nylund, vice president for development and production in Norway for Statoil ASA, right, and Kjetil Hove, vice president of development and production for the east region at Statoil ASA, pause during ... more

Photo: Kristian Helgesen, Bloomberg

Arne Sigve Nylund, vice president for development and production in... Photo-5748856.77425 - Houston Chronicle

Image 32 of 51

Workers operate on the Oseberg A offshore gas platform operated by Statoil ASA in the North Sea 140 kilometers (87 miles) from Bergen, Norway, on Friday, Jan. 17, 2014.

Workers operate on the Oseberg A offshore gas platform operated by Statoil ASA in the North Sea 140 kilometers (87 miles) from Bergen, Norway, on Friday, Jan. 17, 2014.